Searchlight Kids: Exploring The Bible is an interactive e-book "time-travel" adventure series. The first four adventures are now available:

• Book 1: What Is The Bible?

• Book 2: In The Beginning - Genesis 1, 2:1-3

• Book 3: The Story of Adam and Eve - Genesis 2:4-25, 3

• Book 4: The Story of Noah's Ark - Genesis 6 - 8

Throughout each book, numerous interactive questions and activities with sound prompts and real-time feedback reinforce what is learned and keeps the reader actively engaged with the content. Many pages contain a toggle button offering references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). Recommended for ages 6 and up.

The Apps on this page are available from both the Apple App Store for iPad/iPhone and Google's Chrome Web Store for playback on the computer.

​Note: If purchasing the App from the Chrome Web Store, make sure you are using the Google Chrome Browser.

In Book 1: What Is The Bible? readers meet the Bible Time Travel Guides, Louie and Elizabeth. They also learn about the Bible Time Travel Capsule, as well as eight imaginative tools found in the Bible Tool Box. The Bible Time Travel Capsule makes it possible for the Bible Guides to go back through time in search of key information about the Bible. Throughout the book, the Bible Guides re-enter the present and transmit their discoveries.

Among the Bible discoveries are key concepts such as:

• The Bible is a collection of many different kinds of books.

• Many books in the Bible use stories to teach a lesson or make a point.

• Many Bible stories use symbols for the same reason, so it is important to understand what symbols are.

• Common symbols, such as a STOP Sign or Red Light, have a clear meaning. However, symbols do not have the power to make a person behave in a particular way. Each person must make a free choice to comply.

• Bible symbols also have meaning. They teach powerful religious “truths” about God and what it means to have a relationship with him.

• However, biblical symbols can’t force a person to have faith. Each person must learn the meaning of the symbols in the Bible stories and then make a free choice to believe.

• Bible stories were passed down orally first and recorded in writing at a later time.

Price: $.99 Apple App Store • $1.99 Chrome Web Store

Recommended for ages 6 and Up

Book 2: In The Beginning presents the first creation story in the Book of Genesis. Following the story, the Bible Time Travel Guides enlist the help of the reader. By tapping particular tools in the Bible Tool Box, the reader receives their transmissions and shares in their many time travel discoveries.

Among their discoveries are key concepts such as:

• The first book in the Bible is the Book of Genesis.

• The first creation story in the Book of Genesis is a myth.

• A myth is not a fairy tale or fictional story. A myth is a type of writing used in the Bible to teach something mysterious and powerful about God — a “religious” truth.

• The creation story in the Book of Genesis was not meant to give us scientific information, so we shouldn’t expect to find a “scientific” account of creation in the Bible.

• What we do find is an important “religious” truth: God is the intelligent, creative being who brought the universe into existence.

Price: $.99 Apple App Store • $1.99 Chrome Web Store

Recommended for ages 6 and Up

Book 3: The Story of Adam and Eve introduces the reader to the second story of creation in the Book of Genesis. Although this second creation story differs in the sequence of creation events from the first creation story, this story, in combination with the first, teaches an important religious truth: Human beings have a special dignity. They are created in the “image and likeness” of God.

After the story of Adam and Eve is presented, the Bible Guides help the reader identify the symbols used in the story. As the symbols are explained, the reader is introduced to the religious “truths” behind the story and to key theological teachings which are presented in language kids can understand. Throughout the book, the Bible Guides re-emerge from their time travel adventures with discoveries and explanations which help young readers make sense of the story and also avoid some typical misconceptions.

Price: $.99 Apple App Store • $1.99 Chrome Web Store

Recommended for ages 6 and Up

In Book 4: The Story of Noah’s Ark, the power of God’s grace and of good overcoming evil is the predominant theme. Following the presentation of the Noah’s Ark story, the Bible Guides emerge to help the reader identify the symbols used in the story. One by one the symbols are explained and the reader discovers that God’s help — God’s grace — is available to those who trust in his ways of goodness and love. Just as the ark made it possible for Noah, his family, and the animals to float above the waters of the great flood, God’s grace can help believers rise above evil and fill the world with God’s goodness and love.

Near the end of this book the Bible Guides drop into the story in “present” time to explain why a fuller understanding of a Bible story can be obtained by applying what we know as modern day Christians. Many biblical scholars see the waters of the great flood in the Story of Noah’s Ark as a symbol for the waters of Baptism. Just as Noah and his family came through the flood and started a new life, by the waters of Baptism, each Christian begins a new life … a new life in Jesus Christ.

Also, by applying today’s scientific understanding of light, we can deepen our understanding of the rainbow symbol. The colors in light are always present, even though we don’t see them. Because God is pure spirit, we don’t see him, either. The rainbow symbol is God’s way of letting us know that even though we don’t see him, he is always with us.

Price: $.99 Apple App Store • $1.99 Chrome Web Store

Recommended for ages 6 and Up

The Searchlight Virtual School is a division of Ocean East Publishing.

The Searchlight software programs used on this site are the property of Ocean East Publishing and are for individual use by Searchlight students.